John Oxx and Sea The Stars: "I've never trained a horse like him"

  PICTURE: Caroline Norris 

Oxx pays tribute to 'phenomenal' Stars

JOHN OXX paid tribute to Sea The Stars on the day it was announced the six-time Group 1 winner would be retired, saying "he had never trained a horse like him and very few people have".

Sea The Stars's season ended with victory in the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe this month and connections have decided to call time on his career, despite the lure of the Breeders' Cup Classic.

Oxx, who saddled the likes of Sinndar, Azamour and Ridgewood Pearl to victory at the highest level, said:  “We never had a horse like him and very few people have. Very few trainers get the opportunity to train a horse as spectacular as him and we were very grateful that he walked though our gate.

"He’s been such a phenomenal horse, so sound, and nevergave us any trouble. He never missed a day’s work, except for the time in the spring when he had a temperature and he walked for a week. Other than that, he never missed a day so they are rare horses.

"His durability, his toughness and his constitution were all a large part of his talent but he also had the temperament and engine to deliver repeatedly on the big day. He’s a phenomenal horse and we’re all lucky to have had him."